While our dining room table is seldom used for actual dining, I don't generally read while eating. I do, however, read while knitting, and for that I use one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/3feet-Stand-iP...t+stand+purple
They are a little more expensive than some of the other gadgets mentioned, but I like the little rubber bumpers that limit how much it can/will slide, it folds to fit in my bag or purse, and it comes in
purple. (It comes in other colors, too, but
purple is really the only one that matters.)